TEHRAN — Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), reaffirmed on Saturday, January 31, 2026, that nuclear weapons have “no place” in Iran’s military doctrine and that the Islamic Republic possesses sufficient conventional deterrence to defend itself without them.
In an interview with the state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, Eslami emphasized that Iran neither needs nor seeks nuclear weapons, citing a standing religious edict (fatwa) issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear arms. “Iran does not need nuclear weapons and possesses the necessary deterrence even without a nuclear bomb,” he stated.
The remarks come amid heightened speculation of military confrontation with the United States following President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this week that a “massive naval fleet” is en route toward Iran “just in case” military action becomes necessary. Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions or face severe consequences, including potential strikes aimed at changing the regime’s behavior or structure.
Eslami accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of politicizing Iran’s nuclear dossier and facilitating Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities during the June 2025 “12-day war.” He described the bombings of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — three of Iran’s main nuclear sites — as “unprecedented” and in violation of international law and the UN Charter, noting that all targeted facilities are registered with and remain under IAEA supervision.
“Attacks on nuclear sites are prohibited under international law,” Eslami said. “All bombed facilities are registered with the IAEA and are under its strict supervision.” He criticized IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi for failing to condemn the strikes or take meaningful action afterward, accusing the agency of succumbing to external political pressures from the United States and Israel.
Eslami confirmed that inspections of damaged sites have been suspended for security reasons, while monitoring of undamaged facilities continues. He noted that the Iranian parliament suspended broader cooperation with the IAEA in 2025 “for the security of nuclear facilities and personnel,” a decision that has limited access for inspectors.
He described the current environment as a “wartime security situation,” with daily threats from Israeli and American officials. “We face active threats daily; Israeli and American officials openly threaten us. We remain in a wartime security situation. Naturally, we have established and approved procedures for such conditions and strictly follow them,” Eslami said.
Addressing the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting scheduled for March 2026, Eslami predicted intensified pressure on Iran, including the possibility of the agency referring Iran’s file back to the UN Security Council. He accused the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany of undermining the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) through non-compliance and eventual activation of the snapback mechanism late last year, effectively ending the deal.
On Iran’s enrichment activities, Eslami stated that production of uranium enriched to 60% purity serves “future national needs,” such as nuclear propulsion for civilian purposes, as lower enrichment levels did not meet those requirements. He reiterated that all nuclear activities remain under safeguards and are for peaceful purposes.
The AEOI chief called on the IAEA to “act professionally and independently according to its statute” and to clarify what concrete measures it would take if nuclear sites are attacked again. He accused Western powers of double standards, pointing to their silence on Israeli strikes while exerting maximum pressure on Iran.
Meanwhile, domestic voices within Iran have grown louder in recent weeks, with some hardline figures and commentators urging Supreme Leader Khamenei to reconsider or lift the fatwa prohibiting nuclear weapons in light of escalating threats from the US and Israel. These calls, however, remain unofficial and have not been endorsed by the Supreme Leader or senior government officials.
Eslami’s statement aligns with Iran’s longstanding official position since the early 2000s, when the nuclear program first came under international scrutiny. Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful, while Western governments and Israel accuse Iran of pursuing a covert weapons path — a charge Iran denies.
The interview was published amid ongoing nationwide anti-government protests in Iran and reports of U.S. naval deployments, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, moving closer to the region. No immediate comment was issued by the White House, IAEA, or Israeli government on Eslami’s remarks as of Saturday evening.
